Starter device



May 17, 1932. D. T. BROWNLEE 1,858,617

STARTER'DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1930 A TTORNEY.

Patented May 17, 1932 DALMAR T. BnoWivLEE, oniNnIANAroLrs, INDIANA STARTER DEVICE Application filed August 4, 1930. Serial No; 472,935.

This invention relates generally to means whereby to control a rotary. pinion in the operation of starting rotation of a gear wheel by the pinion and the power of an electric starter motor, the invention having reference more particularly to a starter device having the general characteristics of that disclosed -in my application for Letters Patent filed October 20, 1927, Serial No. 227,527; the present invention relating especially to improvements in pinion-controlling means of starter mechanism.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved starting mechanism; that shall be of simple and not costly COI1StI'L1Ci3iO11,.WhlCl1 shall be capable of quietlyoperating and not likely to be damaged by misuse of an ignorant or careless operator.

Another object is to provide an improved starter device that: permits considerable variation of theaccuracy of theparts in manufacturing without affecting the efficient operation of the device. a

A further object is to provide .a starter device of such construction as to be capable of uniformly eflicient' operation under the usual conditions of operation of a motorvehicle without requiring extraordinary skill on the part of an operator.

A still further object is to provide pinioncontrolling mechanism for starter apparatus that shall be of such construction as to be adapted to be operated and controlled with-:

out shock and noise when the starting motor goes into action, and which shall not be likely to become locked as result of thoughtlessly or improperly attempting to begin operation of -'the starting mechanism; which starter device shall be of such construction. as to be extremely compact and strong, not .likely 'to' need repairing, and shall be adapted to be durable and economical in-use. J

With the above-mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in novel pinion-controlling mechanism adapted for structural association with generallycontrolled starter devices, more particularly to start motor-vehicle engines or motors; the

' invention consisting also further in the parts,

and in the combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter particularly. described and further defined in the claims appended hereto. Y i

- Referring to the accompanying drawings,-Figure1 is a longitudinal central section, partially in elevation, showing a construction substantially in accordance with this invention, Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the various parts in different positions; Fig. 3 is another similar view-3 in which various parts appear relatively as seen following a starting operation; Fig. 4 is an end view of a shifting drive housing; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal central section ofthe housing; Fig. 6 is an external view of drive5 ing and controlling devices comprising important co-operating parts of the invention, being on an enlarged scale; Fig. 7 is generally similar to the precedingview but in which one of the :parts is in section to more fo clearly expose an important feature; Fig. 8 is an end vlew of one of the driving and controlling devices; Fig. 9 is an end view'of another of the driving and controlling devices; Fig. 1Ov is a transverse section through the-- driving and controlling devices; and-Fig. 11

is a perspective view of one ofthe devices comprised in the driving and controlling apparatus. I Slnnlar reference characters in the various 50 figures of the drawlngs ndicate corresponding elements or features of construction herein referred to in detail. I This invention, although adapted for va- =rious mountings, will be described inits 're- .lation to a conventional internal combustion engine having a crank case, portions 1 and 1 of which are indicated as being suitable for supporting anelectric starter which in the present case comprises an inclosing casing adapted to'constitute a supporting frame having a body portion 2 and a head portion 8 provided with'a flange 4 for attach l ment to the crank casein which is an opening receiving the head POIfilOll, "the body poru5 tion2 supporting a suitable casingexten- 'sion 5- in which a suitable motor armature 6 "is arranged. Thearmature-has a drive shaft 7 havim a diametrically smallerextension-portion 8 which is provided witha 1 0 journal 9 that is suitably supported in a having a drive head 14 that isfittedtoloir. gitudinally slide on the main shaft portion 7 to be rotated thereby by neans of suitable splines 15 and 16. The shell has drive lugs '17 projecting inward at asuitable distance from the head 14:, and the shell-has :also :a counterbore 18 adjacent to the lugs to receive a controlling n-ut'which will beifurther described, .the .shell having a groove 19 that --opens 'i-ntothe counterbozre to receive a split ring 20 for retainingthe nut inthe counter- -bore. The shell of the housing hfl-S'fl circumferential groove '21 toreceive a shifter fork. A suitable controlling lever 22 is supported by a pivot .23 mounted upon the upper por- I tion of the casing and may be adapted toxbe connected through a'spring to a foot-lever and conventionally has a retracting spring, the lever '22 being p rzovided: also with shifter fork :24 arrangedto operatein the groovez21 whereby to longitudinally:niovethe housing along the armature shaft.- 7

An improved pinion carrier and controller 'is provided which comprises :a sleeve 25 that l is movably guided on the guide portion '8 of the shaftandlras a pinion-26;fixedron one end portion thereof to be moved into driv- 'inglconnect i on with a toothed ring gear 27 which the engine fly-Wheel commonly is provided and received partially into thc casing-through :an. aperture 28' with which 3 is provided. Theinn'er end of the sleeve is adapted to bestopped against the shoulder 11 and is provided with flugs'to be engaged by the lugs .17, theistructure preferably comprising a flange :29 fixed to the sleeve and suitably cut away to I .consti'tutelugs 30 facing in one and the same direction, the backs of the lugs being beveled to afford clearance while the sleeve is rotated 1 and carries. the lugs 30 backward towards the 'headla of the housing. The-sleeve has novel control members 31'ha-ving eachan approxiimatel y conical surface adapted to be frictionally clutched to push the sleeve'ou tward.

' The members are spaced apart and-each one has a continuous long-lead orrapid screw- ;face'32and also a correspondingly pitched guide face 33, the latter being opposite to the face .32 also each member-'31 has a wall face 534 that is located fartherlthan the' 'fa'ce 33 from the'face32in advance of the face 33, toxafford clutch clearance space opposite tel-the screw-face 32. Preferably thesurface 'troller' members 31'Jand thereby pushesthe Wl1en the nut threads are between the-screw $125 of one of the members 31 has a small in= dentation or oval recess 35 arranged in proximity to the flange 29. An annular nut 36 is fitted in the counterbore 18 and has a diametrically smaller inner end portion 37 that extends into the body portion of the housing 13 and has notches 38 in its end face to receive the lugs 1'7. nut has also internal longs-lead screw threads 39 to co-operate with the faces 32 and 33 in close fitting arrangement in the-grooves formed between opposite faces. The nut has a diametrically reduced portion 40 to clear the retaining ring 20. Thebody portion of the nut has a radial guideway 41 so located as to lead to the inde-ntation'35 when the lugs 30 :arein contact with thernut, and a pin device as is arranged in the g-uideway so as toen'ter the depression 35 01 tohave contact withthe surface of the adjacentmember 31, the device having ag; guide stem 43 and a compression spring 54 A: on its back, the spring having. a bearing against the wall of the housing 1 3,.to vprevent improper shifting of c the 'controllin g sleeve that might-be due to vibration of the; various parts.

various elements approximately; in positions show-nin Fig. 1,iupon. appropriate movement vided the housing 13zis moved forward with consequent forward movement of the nut- 36. The nut automaticallybec'omes clutched to the inclined or wedge-like surfaceof ,the consleeve'251out, ;and thepinion thereon forwardiinto operative engagement with the flywheel of the enginepas indicated in Fig. 2. The motor isyto be started through: appropriate instrumentality which may be affDrdQ- ed so astorstart the engine which in practice will normally become operated and, as the i of the lever '22 by such means as may bepro-1$6 fly-wheel starts to rotate at high speed the pinion is rotated-and causes the sleeve tobe opposition of the housing while the driving lugs therein'are becoming disengaged. The "housing becomes retracted by means .Of the retracting spring tofitsrinitial position,l the nut having no clutching. action on the sleeve during this operation; The pin device 42 operatesiautomatically to compensate :for back-lash. ofthe associated parts. Upon initi'al movement designed to carry the pinion forward the clearance:

movement ofethe nut toiinsure the required clutching. contact :to-advance the. sleeve.

faces 32 and 33-cl utch action cannot; occur; 7 What is-claimedIasnewisf .A starter "device including a shiftable aifocrded by the set- T1 back face 34 permits suilicient longitudinal sleeve provided with: a conical" clutch surface 7 I having a helical thread groove, one portion of thea'grooverhavingless width than the reniaine rapidly screwed back into the nutwit'hout; L 3

ing portion thereof, a threaded nut operable on the clutch surface of the sleeve, the thread in the nut having a width corresponding to the lesser width of the groove, a pinion carried by the sleeve, and means to rotate the sleeve.

2. A starter device including a rotary housing provided therein with a screw thread, a sleeve in the housing to be rotated thereby provided with a conical clutch surface having a helical thread groove differing in width in different portions thereof, the groove operatively receiving the screw thread of the housing and permitting lateral play of the thread in the broader portion of the groove, and a pinion secured to the sleeve.

3. A starter device having a sleeve provided with helical clutch and thread members having each a continuous screw face on its forward edge and a guide face on its opposite rearward edge having difterent portions thereof situate at different distances from the screw face, the circumferential surface of each thread member being inclined, a controlling housing, a nut supported in and controlled by the housing and having means to co-act with the clutch and thread members alternately to push and to rotate the sleeve, and a pinion secured to the sleeve.

4. A starter device having a wedge-faced sleeve provided with a helical thread groove differing in width in different portions thereof, the sleeve having a drive lug fixed thereon adjacent to the beginning of the broader portion of the groove, a pinion fixed to the sleeve adjacent to the end of the narrower port on of the groove, a driving housing on the sleeve having a lug to engage the lug on the sleeve, and anut in the housing to engage the wedgeface of the sleeve, the nut having a screw thread operating in the thread groove.

5. A starter device including a sleeve having helical clutch and thread members, the opposite sides of each member having each a screw face, the circumferential surface of each member being inclined and one of the members having an indentation in its surface, a pinion fixed to the sleeve, a controlling housing, and a nut controlled by the housing and having means to co-act with the clutch and thread members alternately to push and to rotate the sleeve, the nut being provided with a spring-impelled detent to slide on the surface of the said member and enter the said indentation.

6. A starter device mechanism including a rotatable housing, a drive shaft guiding and rotating the housing and permitting longitudinal movement of the housing, the shaft having a stop shoulder, means to move and control the housing, a sleeve guided on the shaft to be moved to or from the stop shoulder and having helical controlling members thereon provided each with a conically-inclined friction-clutch surface and also two approximately perpendicular screw facesvon opposite sides thereof, the face at the lower side of the inclined surface having aportion offset into the member, a nut locked in thehousing and having screw threads engaging the screw faces on the controlling members of the sleeve but clearing-said offset portions, the nut being adapted to have clutching engagement with said inclined surface adjacent tosaid offset screw face portion, means enabling the housingto rotate the sleeve, and a pinion fixed to the sleeve. r v

7. A starter device having a housing, a sleeve in the housing, a toothed pinion fixed t0 the sleeve, a rotary drive shaft guiding the housing and the sleeve and having a shoulder to stop the sleeve, the housing being rotated by the shaft and rotating the sleeve but permitting the sleeve to be rotated in the housing at a higher speed than the housing, means to control longitudinal movement of the housing on the shaft, and co-operating means associated with the sleeve and the housing enabling the housing to clutch and move the sleeve forward along the shaft and also enabling the housing to force the sleeve backward along the shaft with rotary motion ing rotated by the housing and provided ,1

with co-operating screw faces to rapidly return the pinion from the fly-wheel at higher rotary speed than the housing, and a frictional'yielding retarding device co-operat ing with the controlling means to arrest r0- tary movement of the clutch apparatus to counteract inadvertent action of the screw faces.

9. In a starter device, the combination with a rotary drive shaft, and anengine gear Wheel, of a sleeve on the shaft having a quick- 7 action clutch and screw member, the surface of the member having a depression, a pinion fixed to the sleeve, a housing splined to the shaft, a nut secured to the housing to be rotated thereby and having a rapid-action thread in connection with said member, the

nut being adapted to clutch the member ,to

push the sleeve for carrying the pinion to the gear wheel, a pin devicecarried in the nut and yieldingly projected into said depression, means to control the housing, and means enabling the, housing to rotate the sleeve.

10. In a starter device, the combination of'a sleeve having a controlling member" theneonvgnf saidzmember: haying; an. inclined clutoh face andr lso semW-fzicesion oppasite sides-1 of: the.; .clu tch;face, ;one ;-p0r, iQn-:o: the lower;ed-gmofiiheiclutch' face having-aloha: anceg space, and; a; controlling: nut, 011mm sleeyeladaptedjto.;engag theyc-lutch' face- 0f saidunember; and-haying a. threaditozcooper: ate with said screw, faces, the thread; being receivablevv insaid ;,space; preceding engagemenbwiththe clutchface. I

' Intestimony whereofil aflix my signature on the 31st day: of"JL11y,1930.- I V DALMAR T. BROWNLE-E; 

